Music-leaf turner.



D. THORNTON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1914.

1 1 53973 1 Patentd Sept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Z I C 23 A TTOHNE Y 8 coLulllA PLANDGIAx-n $0.,WA5HIN010N. D. C.

D. THORNTON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 17. 1914.

1,153,731. Patnt-ed Sept. 14, 1915.

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DOUGLAS THORNTON, OF YONKEBS, NEW YORK.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed September 17, 1914. Serial No. 862,169.

may be readily operated by a single finger operated device or a footoperateddevice according to whether the device 1s used on a piano or other similar instrument or a stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction to engage the various leaves of sheet music and turn the same one at a time, the same mechanism being used for releasing all of the leaves.

A .still further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction which may be operated by one hand for causing an engagement of a plurality of leaves when setting :the device previous to the operation thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of a piano with the device disclosing an embodiment of the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device .shown in Fig. 1, the same being shown on .an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a top View of the structure shown in Fig. 1, part of the operating arms being broken away; Fig. 41 is a perspective view of the form of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the device shown in Fig. 1, part of the arms being broken away; Fig. 6 is a front view of a music stand with an embodiment of the invention applied thereto; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the clamps for the sheet music; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail per- :spective view of the arm supporting and adjusting shaft.

Referring to the accompanying drawmgs by numerals, 1 indicates the piano or other suit able musical instrument to which a turner embodying the invention has been applied. In order to apply the turner to the piano 1 without mutilating or in any way injuring the piano a strap 2 is provided which extends across the top of the piano for any desired distance and then downwardly to the frame 3 where it is provided with transverse arms over which the hooks 4 and 5 are passed. This effectually holds the frame 3 and associated parts in proper position on front of the piano. lVhen the device is applied to a stand 7 (Fig. 6) the hooks 4c and 5 are passed over the top bar 8 or any other suitable bar of the stand.

The device is designed to turn single sheets or double sheets of music, as may be desired, and may be used for turning the leaves of a book if desired.

The frame 3 is provided with a depending back member 9 to which is secured by a screw or other suitable means a depending finger 10, preferably of resilient material, which presses slightly against the center of the sheet 11. The frame 9 is provided with an arc-shaped supporting and guiding member 12 and with a body 13, the body 13 being provided with a notch 1 1 formed with a shoulder 16. This notch is intended to pre vent the arms 17, 18 and 19 from moving until properly released. Arranged centrally of the body 13 is an aperture 20 which accommodates the reduced threaded end 21 of the supporting and tensionin-g shaft 22. A nut 23 is provided for the threaded extension 21 so as to clamp shaft 22 rigidly to body 13, whereby the shaft will not rotate. However, whenever it is desired to rotate the shaft, nut 23 is loosened and the shaft rotated to the desired eX-tent after which the nut is again tightened for locking the shaft rigidly in position.

A plurality of springs are arranged upon shaft 22, namely, springs 24, 25 and 26. The inner ends of these springs, which are of the coiled type as shown in Fig. '2, are interlocked with the books or spurs 27, 28 and 29, these spurs extending through suitable apertures in their respective springs whereby whenever the shaft is rotated in one direction the springs will be wound. Arranged above the respective springs are the respective arms 17, 1'8 and 19, which arms are formed with a ring or loop at their inner ends for fitting over the shaft 22. The outer ends of the respective springs 24:, 25 and26 are formed with apertures through which the arms17, 18 and 19 eject, as more clearlyshown in Figs. 3 and5, so that when the springs are brought under tension the arms will have a tendency to press against the hooks unless held therefrom. When the arms are arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the first arm, namely arm 19, will press against the shoulder 16, while arm 18 will press against arm 19 and arm 17 will press against arm 18, their respective springs being, of course, under tension. In order to release the arms successively a reciprocating pin is operated, said pin being guided by a lug 31 in which it is slidably mounted. The pin 30 is provided with a head 32 at its lower end which is pressed by compression spring 33, the opposite end of the spring engaging the lug 31, whereby the pin 30 will be held normally in a lowered position and out of contact with the various arms. A lever 34 pivotally mounted at 35 in a bracket 36 has one end pressing against the end or head 32 of pin 30 and the other end connected to a chain or other suitable structure 36 which may be operated by a foot treadle 37 when the device is mounted on a music stand, or a finger operated treadle or lever 38 when the device is used on a piano. When chain 36 is pulled downwardly pin 30 will be elevated and as the same is directly beneath the arm 19 (Fig. 3) said arm will be raised and as soon as free of shoulder 16 will swing around against hook 4, the swinging movement being caused by spring 26. As soon as arm 19 has moved away from shoulder 16 arm 18 will take its place, and

7 when arm 18 has been similarly moved by a second operative movement of pin 30 the third arm will take the place of the second arm. This action will continue as often as there may be arms, three arms being shown, but it will be evident that a lesser or greater number of arms could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Connected with the arms are clamping means which engage the sheet music so that when the arms are turned the sheet music will also be turned.

In order to provide a simple effective structure for connecting the sheet music with the arms a clamping member 39 is provided. This clamping member (Fig. 7) is formed with hand-operated extensions 40 and 41 and pinching members 42 and 43 which are flared at the bottom so as to easily fit over the edge of a sheet of paper. The member 42 is preferably formed integral with member 40 while member 43 is preferably formed integral with member 41. Members 40 and 41 are formed with turnedover arms through which the arm 19, for instance, passes on the order of a pintle. A spring 44 is provided which tends to hold separated members 40 and 41 which presses together the pinching members 42 and 43. All of the members 39 are arranged preferably at the upper ends of the arms 17 18 and 19 so that all of the members 40 and 41 may be operated by one hand whereby the other hand is free to insert the sheets of paper. When insertin the sheets of music the same are arranged eneath the finger 10 so that the sheets may be steadied.

It will be noted that there is one single operating means for releasing all of the arms, the same being the pin 30 and the various parts associated therewith. If for any reason the springs should need tightening or brought under a greater tension the nut 23 may be partly unscrewed and shaft 22 turned until the proper tension has been provided, afterward the nut is again tightened. In following the supporting and guiding wire 12 it will be noted (Figs. 2 and 4) that the same extends outwardly an appreciable distance whereby the arms are properly supported notwithstandin the weight of the sheets of music carried thereby. In forming the device a single releasing means is provided and also means for turning the sheet music in one direction. If for any reason it is desired to repeat the particular Fig. 2 so that when the playing has been i completed the movement of the pin 30 will cause the sheet to be again turned. It will be noted that a plurality of disks 15 are provided which separate the springs 24, 25 and 26, and which also act in a certain sense as guides for arms 17, 18 and 19, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

What I claim is 1. In a music leaf turner of the character described, a supporting frame provided with an aperture, a standard formed with a threaded portion extending through said aperture, said standard having a shoulder arranged thereon, a nut engaging said threaded portion for clamping said shoulder against said supporting frame, a plurality of projections extending from said standard, a spring for each of said projections coiled around said standard and having one end connected with said projections, an arm looselv connected with said standard for each of said springs, the outer end of said springs being connected with said arms whereby whenever the said springs are under tension said springs will give said arms a tendency to move to a predetermined position, said nut and said standard being the same plane as said notch and with one arm pressing against said shoulder, a spring for each of said arms for urging the same toward said shoulder, means for connecting said spring with said shaft, means for looking said shaft in any desired position, means for connecting said arms to sheet music, a single reciprocating shaft arranged opposite said shoulder, and means for moving said shaft so as to force the arm pressing against said shoulder to a position above the shoulder whereby the arm under the action of its spring must swing to the opposite side of said base.

3. 1n a music leaf turner of the character described, a supporting base provided with a solid body having an aperture substantially centrally thereof, a notch at one end formed with a straight shouldered and a pair of spaced hooks for supporting the base and an arc-shaped runner extending from the ends of said body, a shaft mounted on said body and with one end extending throng said aperture, a plurality of swinging arins loosely mounted on said shaft, means for swinging said arms from one side of said base to the other, said shaft being formed with projections engaging said swinging means, adjustable means engaging the end of said shaft which extends through said aperture for locking said shaft against movement, said arms being normally held against swinging movement by said shoulder, and means for releasing said arms from said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DOUGLAS THORNTON.

Witnesses:

A. L. KITOHIN, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. v 

